Hidden Kingdoms
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2015}}
{{Infobox television
| image = Hidden Kingdoms.png
| caption =
| alt = Series title over a desert night sky
| alt_name = Mini Monsters (Discovery Channel Version)
| genre = Factual
| creator =
| based_on =
| developer =
| writer =
| director =
| creative_director =
| narrated = Stephen Fry
Peter Dinklage (US version)
| theme_music_composer =
| opentheme =
| endtheme =
| composer = Ben Foster
| country = United Kingdom
| language = English
| num_series =
| num_episodes = 3
| list_episodes = #Episode list
| executive_producer = Mike Gunton (Original Version)
Robert Zakin (Discovery Channel Version)
| producer = {{Plainlist|
- Mark Brownlow (Original Version)
- John Cavanagh (Discovery Channel Version)
- Simon Bell (episode 1)
- Verity White (episode 2)
- Gavin Maxwell (episode 3)
}}
| editor = Stuart Napier (episode 1)
| location =
| cinematography =
| camera =
| runtime = 60 minutes
| company = BBC Natural History Unit
Discovery Channel
RTL Group
France Télévisions
CCTV-9
R.T.I S.p.A
| channel = {{Plainlist |
| first_aired = {{Start date|2014|1|16|df=yes}}
| last_aired = {{End date|2014|1|30|df=yes}}
| related =
}}
Hidden Kingdoms is a British documentary television series that was first broadcast on BBC One on 16 January 2014. The three-part series is narrated by Stephen Fry and shows how animals experience the world from their perspective.{{cite news | url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/news/fry-to-narrate-hidden-kingdoms-29773245.html | title=Fry to narrate Hidden Kingdoms | work=Belfast Telegraph | date=21 November 2013 | access-date=23 November 2013}}{{cite news | url=http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2013-11-21/stephen-fry-to-be-the-voice-of-new-bbc-natural-history-show | title=Stephen Fry to be the voice of new BBC natural history show | work=Radio Times | date=21 November 2013 | access-date=23 November 2013}} Animals shown include a chipmunk, dung beetle, Rufous elephant shrew and treeshrew, and Japanese rhinoceros beetle.{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2013/hidden-kingdoms.html | title=Stephen Fry to narrate BBC One Natural History Unit series Hidden Kingdoms | work=BBC | date=21 November 2013 | access-date=23 November 2013 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20131130064219/https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2013/hidden-kingdoms.html | archivedate = 30 November 2013}}
In United States, the series was shown under the alternative title Mini Monsters, which aired at Discovery Channel on 31 May 2014.{{cite news | url=http://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/mini-monsters/about-the-show/ | title=Mini Monsters: About the Show | work=Discovery Channel | access-date=23 February 2015}}
Production
Kim Shillinglaw, the BBC's head of commissioning for natural history and science, announced the series on 21 November 2013. The following landscapes were used for the series: savanna, desert, jungle, forest and the metropolis of Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo. The executive producer is Mike Gunton, senior executive of the BBC Natural History Unit, and produced by Mark Brownlow. Hidden Kingdoms is a BBC, Discovery, RTL Group, France Télévisions and CCTV-9 co-production, in association with R.T.I S.p.A.{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/worldwide/090413hiddenkingdoms.html | title=BBC Worldwide and CCTV9 unveil Hidden Kingdoms in new co-pro | work=BBC | date=9 April 2013 | access-date=23 November 2013}}{{cite news | url=http://www.rapidtvnews.com/index.php/2013093030009/france-televisions-co-produces-bbc-worldwide-s-hidden-kingdoms.html | title=France Télévisions co-produces BBC Worldwide's Hidden Kingdoms | work=Rapid TV News | date=30 September 2013 | access-date=23 November 2013 | author=Paoli-Lebailly, Pascale}}
BBC Worldwide announced pre-sales for Hidden Kingdoms before the 2013 MIPCOM. The series has been licensed to Network Ten (Australia), BBC Knowledge (South Africa), Sveriges Television (Sweden) and RÚV (Iceland).{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/worldwide/300913hiddenkingdom.html | title=BBC Worldwide announces pre-sales for Hidden Kingdoms and Wild Brazil | work=BBC | date=30 September 2013 | access-date=23 November 2013}} BBC Worldwide also signed a deal with the Korean Broadcasting System.{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/worldwide/030414southkoreaoperatordeals.html | title=BBC Worldwide signs deals with key players in South Korea | work=BBC Worldwide | date=3 April 2014 | access-date=3 April 2014}}
On-screen warnings of re-enacted elements were shown in Hidden Kingdoms. One of the scenes, featuring a mouse leaping to escape the jaws of a rattlesnake, was created by filming rattlesnakes making strikes at a hot towel placed above a camera, which was then merged with footage of the mouse.{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2013/dec/11/bbc-warnings-faked-elements-documentary-hidden-kingdom | title=BBC to air on-screen warnings of re-enacted elements in Hidden Kingdoms | work=The Guardian | date=11 December 2013 | access-date=24 December 2013 | author=Conlan, Tara}}
Episode list
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" width="50%" style="background:#FFFFFF;"
!style="background: #bfe0bf;"| # !style="background: #bfe0bf;"| Title !style="background: #bfe0bf;"| Original air date !style="background: #bfe0bf;"| Overnight UK viewers (millions) |
| {{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=1 |Title=Under Open Skies |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2014|1|16|df=yes}} |Aux4=3.41 |ShortSummary= |LineColor=bfe0bf }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=2 |Title=Secret Forests |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2014|1|23|df=yes}} |Aux4=3.52 |ShortSummary= |LineColor=bfe0bf }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=3 |Title=Urban Jungles |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2014|1|30|df=yes}} |Aux4=2.74 |ShortSummary= |LineColor=bfe0bf }} |
Reception
Overnight figures showed that the first episode on 16 January 2014 was watched by 14.4% of the viewing audience for that time, with 3.41 million watching it.{{cite news | url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a544778/birds-of-a-feather-edges-silent-witness-on-thursday-evening.html | title=Birds of a Feather edges Silent Witness on Thursday evening | work=Digital Spy | date=17 January 2014 | access-date=19 January 2014 | author=Eames, Tom}} The second and third episodes attracted 3.52m (15.5%) and 2.74m (12.4%) respectively.{{cite news | url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a546306/birds-of-a-feather-bounces-back-to-top-thursday-ratings.html | title=Birds of a Feather bounces back to top Thursday ratings | work=Digital Spy | date=24 January 2014 | access-date=23 February 2014 | author=Eames, Tom}}{{cite news | url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a547978/birds-of-a-feather-down-but-still-top-on-thursday.html | title=Birds of a Feather down but still top on Thursday | work=Digital Spy | date=31 January 2014 | access-date=23 February 2014 | author=Eames, Tom}}
Some reviewers criticised the show's use of staged scenes and digital editing, stating that the depicted events and locations are "astonishing if true, but frustrating and worthless if merely a digital effect".{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2014/jan/08/bbc-staged-nature-hidden-kingdoms | title=BBC telling us it staged sequences makes Hidden Kingdoms hard to watch | work=The Guardian | date=8 January 2014 | access-date=19 January 2019 | author=Lawson, Mark}}
Home media
In United Kingdom, a single DVD disc was released on 27 January 2014 by BBC Worldwide.{{cite web | url=http://www.bbcshop.com/science+nature/hidden-kingdoms-2d-dvd/invt/bbcdvd3880 | title=Hidden Kingdoms (DVD) | work=BBC Shop | access-date=24 December 2013}}
In United States and Canada, DVD and Blu-ray Disc were released on 8 July 2014.{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Kingdoms-Original-Version-Discoverys-Monsters/dp/B00JFH8GBY |title= Hidden Kingdoms (DVD) |website= Amazon }}{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Kingdoms-Original-Version-Discoverys-Monsters/dp/B00JFH8GMI |title= Hidden Kingdoms (Blu-ray) |website= Amazon }} It was distributed by BBC Warner.
In Germany, DVD and Blu-ray Disc were released on 19 December 2014.{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.de/Hidden-Kingdoms-K%C3%B6nigreich-kleinen-Tiere/dp/B00PGEGZKE |title= Hidden Kingdoms - Im Königreich der kleinen Tiere (DVD) |publisher=Amazon.de}}{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.de/Hidden-Kingdoms-Königreich-kleinen-Blu-ray/dp/B00PGEH2DI |title= Hidden Kingdoms - Im Königreich der kleinen Tiere (Blu-ray) |publisher=Amazon.de}}
In Japan, both DVD and Blu-ray Disc were released on 3 November 2015.{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.jp/%E5%B0%8F%E3%81%95%E3%81%AA%E4%B8%96%E7%95%8C%E3%81%AF%E3%83%AF%E3%83%B3%E3%83%80%E3%83%BC%E3%83%A9%E3%83%B3%E3%83%89%E3%80%80TV%E3%82%AA%E3%83%AA%E3%82%B8%E3%83%8A%E3%83%AB%E5%AE%8C%E5%85%A8%E7%89%88%EF%BC%882%E6%9E%9A%E7%B5%84%EF%BC%89-DVD-%E3%82%B5%E3%82%A4%E3%83%A2%E3%83%B3%E3%83%BB%E3%83%99%E3%83%AB/dp/B013BB1VES |title= Hidden Kingdoms (DVD) |publisher=Amazon.co.jp|language=ja}}{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.jp/%E5%B0%8F%E3%81%95%E3%81%AA%E4%B8%96%E7%95%8C%E3%81%AF%E3%83%AF%E3%83%B3%E3%83%80%E3%83%BC%E3%83%A9%E3%83%B3%E3%83%89%E3%80%80TV%E3%82%AA%E3%83%AA%E3%82%B8%E3%83%8A%E3%83%AB%E5%AE%8C%E5%85%A8%E7%89%88-Blu-ray-%E3%82%B5%E3%82%A4%E3%83%A2%E3%83%B3%E3%83%BB%E3%83%99%E3%83%AB/dp/B013BB1UOO|title= Hidden Kingdoms (Blu-ray) |publisher=Amazon.co.jp|language=ja}}
Soundtrack
{{Infobox album
| name = Hidden Kingdoms
| type = Soundtrack
| artist = Ben Foster
| cover =
| alt =
| released = 11 March 2014
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = Soundtrack, Classical music
| length = 1:18:44
| label = Silva Screen Records
| producer = BBC Worldwide
BBC Earth
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title =
| next_year =
}}
The musical score and songs featured in the series were composed and conducted by Ben Foster, with the performed by the BBC Concert Orchestra. The audio cd soundtrack was released on 11 March 2014,{{cite web|url=http://www.silvascreen.com/hidden-kingdoms-soundtrack-by-ben-foster |title= Hidden Kingdoms-Soundtrack by Ben Foster|publisher=Silva Screen Records}}{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Kingdoms-Ben-Foster/dp/B00I480Q3Q |title= Hidden Kingdoms (Soundtrack) |website= Amazon |year= 2014 }} while digital soundtrack was available on 15 January 2016.{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/hidden-kingdoms-original-television/id1071540581 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160921211627/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/hidden-kingdoms-original-television/id1071540581 |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 September 2016 |title= Hidden Kingdoms (Original Television Soundtrack) by Ben Foster |publisher=iTunes Store US}}
{{Track listing
|title1 = Hidden Kingdoms Opening Titles
|length1 = 1:49
|title2 = Africa
|length2 = 2:24
|title3 = Lizard Attack
|length3 = 3:18
|title4 = Exploring the Trail
|length4 = 1:10
|title5 = The Dung Beetles
|length5 = 1:50
|title6 = Fire
|length6 = 1:27
|title7 = Life
|length7 = 2:52
|title8 = The Wild West
|length8 = 1:02
|title9 = Scorpion Mouse
|length9 = 2:22
|title10 = The Jaws of Death
|length10 = 0:55
|title11 = In the Rain
|length11 = 0:55
|title12 = The Flood
|length12 = 0:55
|title13 = Run Mouse, Run!
|length13 = 1:38
|title14 = Tom vs The Lizard
|length14 = 1:26
|title15 = Running Free
|length15 = 4:13
|title16 = Meeting Chip
|length16 = 2:53
|title17 = A Burglar
|length17 = 1:12
|title18 = You Naughty Moose!
|length18 = 1:01
|title19 = It's a Fight!!
|length19 = 0:54
|title20 = The Dark, Dark Wood
|length20 = 0:37
|title21 = Forest of the Owl
|length21 = 1:24
|title22 = Winter Approaching
|length22 = 1:00
|title23 = Do or Die
|length23 = 0:55
|title24 = Fight Fight Fight!
|length24 = 1:34
|title25 = Life in the Trees
|length25 = 2:14
|title26 = The Forest
|length26 = 1:20
|title27 = Three Little Pigs
|length27 = 2:21
|title28 = Forest Giants
|length28 = 1:33
|title29 = Pitcher Plant
|length29 = 1:21
|title30 = Fluorescence
|length30 = 1:48
|title31 = Snake Attack / The Leap
|length31 = 1:31
|title32 = The Season Change
|length32 = 3:07
|title33 = Urban Jungle
|length33 = 0:44
|title34 = The Streets of Rio
|length34 = 2:22
|title35 = Marmoset Investigates
|length35 = 1:31
|title36 = Ant Colony
|length36 = 1:48
|title37 = Cat on the Prowl
|length37 = 1:50
|title38 = Tokyo Nights
|length38 = 0:47
|title39 = Beetle Rock
|length39 = 0:53
|title40 = Beetle Roll
|length40 = 1:50
|title41 = Bright Lights
|length41 = 3:00
|title42 = Ghek Off the Wall
|length42 = 1:33
|title43 = Praying Mantis
|length43 = 0:54
|title44 = Flight to the Temple
|length44 = 1:44
|title45 = Beetle Beetle
|length45 = 1:31
|title46 = Living Side by Side
|length46 = 1:27
|title47 = Everywhere, A Hidden Kingdom
|length47 = 0:40
|title48 = Hidden Kingdoms Closing Titles
|length48 = 1:09
|total_length = 78:44
}}
References
{{reflist|2}}
External links
- {{BBC programme}}
- [http://www.bbcearth.com/shows/hidden-kingdoms Hidden Kingdoms] at BBC Earth
- {{IMDb title|id=3737220|title=Hidden Kingdoms}}
- [http://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/mini-monsters/ Mini Monsters] at Discovery Channel website
- {{Radio Times|programme/crqb6m/hidden-kingdoms|title=Hidden Kingdoms}}
{{BBC Natural History Unit}}
Category:2014 British television series debuts
Category:2014 British television series endings
Category:2010s British documentary television series
Category:BBC television documentaries